USC wide receiver Ja’Kobi Lane was still in his sweat-soaked jersey when he scooped up a smiling toddler with both hands. He gave her a quick, friendly snuggle before releasing her and turning to a little boy to dole out a one-of-a-kind handshake.
That purity and energy took on a larger form earlier in the evening when Lane was wowing a crowd of more than 67,000 people at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, making mind-bending contested catches to help lead the No. 20 Trojans to a 38-17 victory over Northwestern.
It’s almost like he’s the unofficial “cool” older brother of the team.
“Oh, I just try and make everybody happy,” Lane told reporters after the game, “whether it’s teammates or the coaches’ sons and daughters. If that’s the title, I’ll accept it.”
@haleymsawyer USC receiver Ja’Kobi Lane was signing autographs and taking photos with kids after making in seven catches for 74 yards and a touchdown in Friday’s game against Northwestern. #CollegeFootball #usc #widereciever
♬ original sound – Haley Sawyer
Lane had brought his signature hype to the Trojans throughout the season, but he’s shining his brightest after the Northwestern win – and everyone certainly seems happy.
A broken foot had limited Lane early in the season. Another undisclosed injury kept him out of the win over Michigan State in mid-September. He bounced back for a 111-yard performance in a loss at Notre Dame, then dipped to just 22 yards in a victory against Nebraska the following week.
He rebounded again Friday night for a season-high seven catches for 74 yards and a touchdown versus Northwestern.
“Ever since he got injured, he’s been a little bit rusty coming back,” USC head coach Lincoln Riley said after the game. “He’s starting to get a couple of good practice weeks under his belt and play a really consistent game. It’s important for us. He’s an important part of our offense and our team and certainly made us more versatile tonight.”
Photos and videos of Lane’s one-handed catch against Georgia Southern got the college football world’s attention in Week 2. His 6-foot-4 frame stretched above a defender, arm extended and right hand ready for a snag.
His hands proved steady again Friday. Northwestern’s Garner Wallace was wrapping up Lane, but it didn’t keep the receiver from steadying the ball and pulling it close to his solar plexus for a touchdown.
Lane said after the game that he never took his eyes off the ball thrown by Jayden Maiava.
“Being in this position and playing receiver for this long, you know those opportunities don’t come often,” he told reporters. “So, whenever that ball is in the air, it’s trying to put yourself into position so that the quarterback will come your way again.”
The touchdown pass was Maiava’s 17th of the season, which matches his single-season career-high scoring strikes from UNLV in 2023.
Lane has used his length to create mismatches on the outside and generate 520 receiving yards and four touchdowns on 33 catches this season – mostly from medium and long range. All three stats are second on the team only to Makai Lemon’s 937 yards and seven touchdowns on 61 grabs.
“I think the biggest thing is just how much of a team player he is,” Maiava said of Lane. “He just wants to see everybody win on this team, so you gotta appreciate guys like that. He’s a warrior.”
Saturday was the first time USC and Northwestern had met on the field since the 1996 Rose Bowl Game, which the Trojans won 41-32.
Trojans receiving great Keyshawn Johnson was named the MVP of the game after a 216-yard, one-touchdown performance, and he was at the Coliseum to lead the Trojans out of the tunnel on Friday evening with his two kids by his side.
“We in the house tonight,” Johnson screamed into the microphone. “Me and my former teammates dominated that Northwestern squad in 1996. What I want to see tonight is a duplicate of that in the Coliseum.”
When the game kicked off, Lane was on the sideline bringing his own energy, making a name for himself in USC’s lineage of talented receivers.
“He’s the heart and soul of this team,” Trojans running back King Miller said. “He gets us going. If he’s balling, he’s on the sideline, no matter what he is – he’s always infectious, and it carries the team.”
